What is Summa Cum Laude?
Summa cum laude is a Latin phrase which means “with highest honors.” It is used to recognize certain students who have graduated with academic distinction, most commonly at the undergraduate level, although Latin honors are sometimes granted to high school and graduate students as well. Graduating summa cum laude is quite an achievement, as this honor is the most prestigious possible, and it is quite rare. Graduation standards vary widely from school to school, and students who wish to graduate with honors would be well-advised to have a talk with the counseling office early in their academic careers to find out what the criteria for Latin honors are. As a general rule, the student must have a very high grade point average, and he or she may also need to complete an honors thesis, workshop, or project. Sometimes extracurricular activities are required as well, to show that the student is fully engaged with his or her community. Sometimes letters of recommendation or nomination for hono
